German writers often use cortbinations of single abbreviations. A considerable number of these older terms have been retained in this list, but not all.
Military terms borrowed from other languages in use during the first World War and earlier have frequently been replaced in the present German Army by German equivalents. The present list aims at a reasonable completeness, within the following limits: a. Frequently the meaning can be inferred from the context. A good working knowledge of the abbreviations commonly in use at present will help in interpreting these new coinages. With these the intelligence officer must deal to the best of his ability. Flak for Flugzeugabwehrkanone,Gestapo for Geheime Staatspolizei, and Stuka for Sturzkampfflugzeug are familiar examples.īecause of the extent of the field, it is unlikely that any dictionary of German military abbreviations could be "complete." New abbreviations, whether as the result of developments in military equipment and tactics, or as the temporary short-cuts of an individual commander writing orders, will continue to come into existence. Sometimes this procedure results in a pronounceable combination of letters, and the abbreviation gains currency as a word. In the case of compound words, the Germans often make an abbreviation by taking elements or initial letters from each of the component parts. The word Befehlshaber, for instance, can be abbreviated Befhb., Befh., or B. Here also the Germans attempt to leave enough of the distinctive structure of the word to give the reader a clue. Another common tendency is to lop off syllables of the word being abbreviated the degree to which this is carried depends on the writer's haste and the amount of comprehension he expects in the reader. Whenever possible the Germans keep enough of the original word structure to make the abbreviation a recognizable skeleton of the word for which it stands. While the Germans do not follow any consistent procedure in abbreviating, the following tendencies can be observed: a. Thorough foundation in the German language is useful, but not infallible, in determining the meaning of a particular abbreviation-guessing, in this, as in all military intelligence work, is dangerous. Individual commanders frequently improvise abbreviations, which will be understandable from the context to the German officer reading them, but may cause considerable difficulty to the non-German. Many words are abbreviated in more than one manner, sometimes in the course of a single document. There is no "easy road to knowledge" in regard to these military abbreviations. A thorough knowledge of both abbreviations and symbols is therefore essential to military personnel engaged in the interpretation of captured documents. These abbreviations are often used in connection with military symbols (see German Military Symbols, January 1943, Military Intelligence Service). Perhaps to a greater extent than any other army, the German Armed Forces employ military abbreviations on their maps and charts, on task force tables of organization, on direction and location sign posts in combat zones, on field orders, and, in short, in every case where abbreviations may possibly be used. Requests for additional copies of all publications of the Military Intelligence Service should be forwarded through channels for approval. Other publications of the Military Intelligence Service include: Tactical and Technical Trends (biweekly) Intelligence Bulletin (monthly) Military Reports on the United Nations (monthly). Such correspondence may be addressed directly, to the D)issemnination Unit, Military Intelligence Service, War I)epartnlent, Washington, I). 41 Readers are invited to comment on the use that they are making of this publication and to forward suggestions for future issues. Reproduction within the military service is permitted provided the source is stated, and the information is safeguarded. Each command should circulate available copies among its officers. Med Bn QM Co Hq Inf Regt, 6 each Inf Bn, 7 each Hq Div Arty FA Bn, 7 eachħ Maint Bn 7 7 Sup Bn 7 )iv Tn flq 6 Armnd Regt, 25 each 80 FA BIn, 7 each 3 Intf Regt 21 1.50ĭistribution to air units is being made by the Assistant Chief of Air Staff, Intelligence, Army Air Forces.
INFANTRY DIVISION CAVALRY DIVISION ARMORED DIVISIONĢ 7 7 18 63 8 28 Sig Tr Engr Sq Mied Sq QM Sq Hlq Cav Brig, 3 each C'av Regt, aO each EHq Div Arty FA Bn, 7 each Nondivisional units are being supplied with copies on a basis similar to the approved distribution for divisional commands, as follows:
Publication of Special Series is for the purpose of providing officers with reasonably confirmed information from official and other reliable sources. MILITARY INTELLIGENCE SERVICE WAR DEPARTMENT WASHINGTON, April 12, 1943ġ.